Governor Paterson Announces Nearly $300 Million in 2010 Homeland Security Funding for New York State

ALBANY, NY (07/15/2010)(readMedia)-- Governor David A. Paterson today announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded New York State $294 million in Federal homeland security funding. This represents a 2.4 percent increase from 2009 funding levels for these programs.

"As evidenced by the thwarted Times Square bombing attempt earlier this year, our State has an ongoing need for anti-terror funds. I am pleased that the Federal government has continued to support our efforts to fight terrorism and increase preparedness for natural disaster and other emergencies," Governor Paterson said. "I thank Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and our Congressional Delegation for securing these funds for New York."

The New York City Urban Area will receive $151.5 million in Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) funding, which is a 4.4 percent increase from 2009 and is the most funding awarded to any UASI region in the nation. Moreover, the State will receive $113.5 million in State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) funds, again the most of any State in the nation. These grant funds will support first responders and communities across the State to better prepare for and respond to terrorist attacks, natural disasters and other emergencies.

Acting Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services John R. Gibb said: "New York has been a leader in the fight against terrorism, long ago adopting a threat-based approach to ensure that our first responders – our front line of defense – receive the resources they need to protect our citizens. These funds will enhance our preparedness and response capabilities by providing the vital training and equipment that are essential in keeping our communities and families safe from acts of terrorism and prepared for natural disasters. I would like to thank Governor Paterson for his efforts to secure these funds, and to create the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, which will streamline operations and better utilize State and Federal funds."

The grant allocations for New York State include:

Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI): $161.4 million

New York State's five DHS-designated Urban Areas will receive a total $161,460,063 in 2010 UASI funding: New York City ($151,579,096), Buffalo ($5,544,750), Albany-Schenectady-Troy ($1,011,141), Rochester ($2,314,601) and Syracuse ($1,010,475). The UASI program supports the multi-discipline planning, organization, equipment, training and exercise needs of high-threat and high-density urban areas. New York State's overall UASI award increased by nearly three percent over 2009 funding levels.

State Homeland Security Program (SHSP): $113.5 million

New York State will receive $113,536,625 in 2010 SHSP funding to enhance our preparedness capabilities and to implement the goals and objectives in our State Homeland Security Strategy. Per DHS guidelines, the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) will allocate 80 percent of SHSP funding to local jurisdictions in the State within 45 days of the formal award date. New York State's SHSP award increased by one percent between 2009 and 2010.

Metropolitan Medical Response Systems (MMRS): $1.5 million

New York State's 2010 MMRS award ($1,587,095) will be used to enhance local medical incident management's ability to coordinate and respond to a mass casualty event during the first crucial hours of an incident until significant external resources arrive. These funds will be split equally, as determined by Federal guidance, among New York City, Yonkers, Buffalo, Syracuse and Rochester.

Operation Stonegarden Grant Program (OSGP): $3.3 million

2010 OSGP funding awarded to New York State ($3,314,591) will be used to support border security activities in 12 northern border counties that share an international border with Canada and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe. OSGP funds are used to address the constantly changing threats to our borders: These funds must be used to increase operational capabilities of Federal, State, local and tribal law enforcement, promoting a layered, coordinated approach to law enforcement along the border.

Citizen Corps Program (CCP): $566,798

CCP funding is used to enhance citizen and community involvement in emergency preparedness, planning, mitigation, response and recovery activities. DHSES administers the CCP grant and distributes funding to local Citizen Corps Councils to enhance their capabilities. These councils are required to coordinate with their Emergency Management partners to ensure a coordinated appropriate to citizen and community preparedness across the State.

Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program (RCPGP): $7.1 million

The 2010 RCPGP award ($7,140,000) will be used in the New York City-Northern New Jersey-Connecticut region to enhance catastrophic incident preparedness by supporting the coordination of regional all-hazard planning for catastrophic events. The RCPGP's mission is to fix shortcomings in existing plans, to build regional planning processes and planning communities and to link operational and capabilities-based planning for resource allocation. All activities associated with this grant are managed programmatically by the region's Regional Catastrophic Planning Team (RCPT).

Not-for-Profit Security Grant Program (NSGP): $6 million

Under the 2010 NSGP, 83 non-profit organizations in New York State will receive funding. The NSGP provides funding for target hardening activities to protect nonprofit (501)(c)(3) organizations in Federally-designated UASI areas. While this funding is provided specifically to high-risk nonprofit organizations, the program seeks to integrate nonprofit preparedness activities with broader State and local preparedness efforts. The State's 2010 NSGP award ($6,054,141) represents a 31.2 percent increase over 2009 funding levels.

State Homeland Security Program Tribal Supplement: $468,483

The SHSP Tribal program provides supplemental funding to eligible tribes to help strengthen the nation against risks associated with potential terrorist attacks. This grant is managed directly by the Federal Department of Homeland Security. Under the 2010 SHSP Tribal Supplemental program, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe located within New York State will receive funding.

Overall

In 2010, DHS has announced over $488 million in Federal homeland security funding through the grant programs outlined above, in addition to other grants previously announced. This represents an 8.5 percent decrease over total 2009 funding to the State. This is largely due to decreases in Port and Transit Security funding to New York State, which were announced by DHS in May.

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Governor Paterson Announces Nearly $300 Million in 2010 Homeland Security Funding for New York State

New York State Office of the Governor

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